And, it so happens, it is possible to convert engine thrust into a measurement of horsepower, so long as you are able to fill in a few variables. This is explained below, using the example of a Boeing 747:

The conclusion of this explanation is that in order to determine the power a jet creates in flight, we need to know the exact amount of thrust necessary to fly at a particular speed. We typically know the static thrust rating of an engine or the airspeed of a plane during flight, but the problem is that we usually don’t know the amount of thrust that corresponds to a particular speed at a specific point in time. It is because of this disconnect that it is so difficult to calculate the power generated by the engines on a particular plane.

Luckily, we do have access to data from a NASA report that does provide all the data we need to illustrate a sample case. The data is provided for a Boeing 747-200 cruising at Mach 0.9 at 40,000 ft (12,190 m). In this example, the aircraft’s engines produce 55,145 lb (245,295 N) of thrust, only a quarter of its rated static thrust, to cruise at a velocity of 871 ft/s (265 m/s). Using the equations provided above, we calculate the power generated by the 747 to be 87,325 hp (65,100 kW).

For the full story about thrust and horsepower, see: http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/propulsion/q0195.shtml

I get the feeling Todd’s little experiment was done for the fun of it, and I don’t think Boeing is going to redesign their planes based on the data he pulled.

Stick to cars! Your knowledge of Jet engines is “Zero”.

First Jet Engines aren’t rated in bph. They are rated in “Pounds of Thrust”. Depending which Airline you flew on, most 737 use CFM56 Turbofan engines. The CFM56 Engine has between 24,000 & 32,000 pound of Thrust. (depends on engine config.)

Second, the “empty weight” of 737 is 68,860 lb, then you have to add the weight of the engines, fuel, oil, hydraulic fluid, cargo, passengers, baggage, etc, etc.

Max. take off weight of a 737 is 133,210 lb

Takeoff thrust of CFM56 Turbofan Engine is appox. 20,000 lbf (per engine)

Please leave the Aviation technical stuff to those us who actually work on Aircraft and Aircraft engines. Stick to Mini’s.